Is it anxiety… exhaustion… or something more?

In this deeply personal episode, Lisa shares her shocking diagnosis of Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition that causes an overactive thyroid, and explains why it’s so often missed in new mums.

Thyroid conditions, including postpartum thyroiditis, are surprisingly common in the first year after having a baby. Yet many symptoms are dismissed as “normal mum life.”

Racing heart. Anxiety. Insomnia. Weight loss. Irritability. Sweating. Weakness.

Sound familiar?

In this episode, Lisa covers:

• What Graves’ disease actually is and how it affects your body
• The difference between Graves’ disease and postpartum thyroiditis
• Why thyroid problems are common after pregnancy
• The key symptoms of an overactive thyroid in new mums
• When to go to A&E
• The essential blood tests you MUST ask for
• How thyroid conditions can impact future pregnancies
• Why you must advocate for your own follow-up care

Many women suffer for months, even years thinking they are just anxious, overtired, or struggling with motherhood. But untreated thyroid disease can seriously affect your heart, mood, and overall wellbeing.

Common thyroid disorder symptoms:

• Unexplained rapid weight loss
• Resting heart rate over 100
• Severe palpitations
• Intense anxiety or rage
• Heat intolerance and excessive sweating
• Shaking hands or muscle weakness
• Feeling “not yourself”

Please seek professional help if you have any of these symptoms, because this podcast isn’t just Best for Baby. It’s Best for Mum, too.

Connect with Lisa here!

For help on:

Baby Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly and Torticollis), click here!

Positional Talipes (Correctable Club Foot), click here!

In this episode of The Best For Baby Podcast, paediatric physiotherapist Lisa Rogers Sergeant explores the real reasons so many neurotypical babies are struggling with early development – even without any medical diagnosis.

From tummy time fears to modern baby equipment, we dive into how everyday parenting practices may unintentionally impact milestones like rolling, sitting, crawling and walking.

You’ll learn:

• Why the “Back to Sleep” campaign, while life-saving, has created a fear of tummy time
• How baby equipment like bouncers, seats and pushchairs can limit natural movement
• The link between flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly) and time spent on firm surfaces
• What a baby’s sensory profile is – and how it affects development
• How flexibility, hypermobility and low muscle tone can slow progress
• Why tall or heavier babies often take longer to meet milestones

And Most importantly, What you can do right now to support your baby’s strength and motor skills!

Lisa also explains how small daily changes can make a huge difference to your baby’s development.
If you’re worried your baby is behind, this episode will reassure you that there is so much you can do before jumping to worst-case conclusions.

• Helpful Resources
  • Baby Development Mini-Series (Best for Baby Podcast)
  • 0–3 Month Baby Development PDF
  • Remote consultations with Lisa
  • Home visits in Greater London

Connect with Lisa here!

For help on:

Baby Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly and Torticollis), click here!

Positional Talipes (Correctable Club Foot), click here!

In this end-of-year episode of the Best For Baby Podcast, paediatric physiotherapist Lisa shares her personal journey and explains how to support baby development naturally through connection, positioning, and parent-led care.

This episode explores Lisa’s path from training in South Africa to working in intensive care and private hospitals in London, and how these experiences shaped her approach to early intervention for babies and baby physiotherapy in the first year of life.

You’ll hear powerful stories that explain why baby bonding and attachment, touch, and movement are just as important as milestones — and why many common baby issues, including baby head shape problems, are often preventable with early support.

Lisa also shares her experience of becoming a mother later in life, navigating postnatal depression, and discovering first-hand how overwhelming it can feel to follow expert advice in the early days. This insight now shapes the way she teaches parents how to support baby development naturally, using a less-is-more approach.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why parent-led baby physiotherapy creates better developmental outcomes
• Why tummy time is important and how fear around tummy time impacts babies
• How chest naps and baby safety can coexist when done correctly
• The link between positioning, bonding, and preventing baby head shape problems
• How modern routines and equipment affect baby movement development

This episode is for parents who are worried about development or head shape, or are looking for calm, practical guidance on supporting babies in a modern world.

If you’ve ever searched for how to prevent baby head shape issues, why tummy time is important, or how to help your baby develop without stress, this episode will help you understand why early, gentle intervention matters.

Connect with Lisa here!

For help on:

Baby Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly and Torticollis), click here!

Positional Talipes (Correctable Club Foot), click here!

In this episode, Lisa answers one of the most common questions parents ask: Does my baby need to crawl?

Lisa also breaks down the real developmental benefits of crawling, why some babies skip it entirely, and when (and if!) you should be concerned. She explains typical crawling patterns, unusual crawling styles, bottom shuffling and bunny hopping, and how these relate to your baby’s muscle tone, sensory processing, coordination and motor planning.

You’ll learn:
✨ Why reciprocal crawling is so beneficial for strength, balance, proprioception and brain development
✨ When asymmetrical or “quirky” crawling is completely normal
✨ Why some babies skip crawling but still walk perfectly on time
✨ Early signs that a physio or osteopath might be helpful
✨ What to do if your baby never crawled — including fun, effective ways to build shoulder stability, core strength, sensory awareness, fine motor coordination and bilateral integration at any age.

This episode is packed with reassurance, clarity and actionable ideas, reminding you that movement should always feel playful, positive and empowering for your child.

Links mentioned:

Vibration toy for young babies: Here

Vibration toy for toddlers/older children: Here

I am an Amazon Affiliate and as such will receive a small commission for the sale of these products, however I do not endorse any product I have not personally used with great success!

Please also refer to my episodes on how to help your baby crawl from my Developmental Activities Miniseries: MS 2: E3 and E4.

Connect with Lisa here!

For help on:

Baby Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly and Torticollis), click here!

Positional Talipes (Correctable Club Foot), click here!

Promoting Confidence, Calm and Independence in Children, without the "Mum Guilt".

In this thought-provoking episode, Lisa dives into the Continuum Concept, the influential 1975 book by Jean Liedloff, and explores how its ideas compare to modern parenting.

Lisa unpacks what the book gets right, what doesn’t apply to today’s families, and how parents can take gentle, grounding lessons from it without guilt or pressure.

Drawing from her own honest reflections (including the mistakes she believes she made as a new mum), Lisa explains how historical parenting practices still influence us today and how we can tune back into our instincts, respond to our children’s needs, and nurture emotional security from infancy through early childhood.

This is a powerful, reassuring episode for any parent who has ever felt torn between instinct and outdated advice.

💛 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What the Continuum Concept actually is and what Jean Liedloff observed in rural Venezuela
• How historical Western parenting (1950s–1970s) shaped our current beliefs about crying, feeding, routines, and independence
• Why parents today still feel guilt, confusion and pressure from outdated parenting culture
• The importance of physical closeness, co-regulation and responding to your baby’s cues
• How to support emotional security in babies and older children
• Why independence develops naturally (and why you don’t have to force it)
• What parts of the Continuum Concept don’t hold up — and how to adapt the useful pieces for modern life

🧡 Key Takeaways

• Babies are born expecting closeness, responsiveness and connection.
• Some mainstream parenting advice from the past still influences our instincts today.
• Mistakes are normal — what matters is how we show love, presence and connection going forward.
• You can nurture your child’s sense of worthiness and emotional rightness at ANY age.
• Parenting isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence.

Connect with Lisa here!

For help on:

Baby Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly and Torticollis), click here!

Positional Talipes (Correctable Club Foot), click here!

In this final episode of the gross motor miniseries, paediatric physiotherapist Lisa walks you through exactly how to support your baby’s physical development between 9 and 12 months.

If your baby is rolling, sitting with some balance, pushing up on extended arms, and starting to get mobile on their tummy, this episode gives you the precise activities that help them progress toward crawling, kneeling, pulling to stand, and early cruising.

✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✔ Why gross motor practice is essential for overall development

Lisa explains how movement strengthens muscles, improves postural stability, boosts cognitive development, builds sensory processing skills and encourages a love of movement. Babies learn through their bodies first.

✔ Fun, motivating ways to encourage your baby to practice new skills

• How to choose toys that stimulate multiple senses
• Why repetition builds strength
• How to make activities enjoyable (no overwhelm!)

✨ The Core Activities Covered

1. Moving From Tummy to All Fours

How to help your baby into a strong hands-and-knees position, build stability and begin rocking and early crawling movements.

2. High Kneeling & Saving Reactions

Step-by-step guidance on safely practising kneeling, encouraging balance, and developing protective “saving reactions.”

3. Kneeling at the Sofa

Exactly how to practise supported kneeling, encourage core activation, and transition from side-sitting to kneeling.

4. Pulling to Stand (Two Methods)

• Pull to stand from sitting (“bench sitting”)
• Pull to stand from kneeling (“half kneeling”)
  Including detailed instructions on foot placement, weight-shifting and supporting without doing all the work for your baby.

5. Standing, Shifting Weight & Beginning Cruising

• Side-to-side weight shifts
• Reaching outside the base of support
• Twisting while standing
• Early steps along furniture

Lisa also explains when to seek help for your baby which can be accessed via your health visitor, GP, local physiotherapist, or booking an online consultation with Lisa.

✨ Resources Mentioned

• YouTube video demonstrating pull-to-stand methods
• Baby-safe vibrating toy (Amazon affiliate link)
• Upcoming downloadable photographic manuals with step-by-step instructions

✨ Connect & Learn More

Visit www.physiobaby.co.uk
for consultations, courses and resources to support your baby’s development.

Connect with Lisa here!

For help on:

Baby Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly and Torticollis), click here!

Positional Talipes (Correctable Club Foot), click here!

In this episode of the Best for Baby Podcast, paediatric physiotherapist Lisa guides you through her favourite, development-boosting activities for babies aged 6–9 months. This stage is a major turning point where babies begin to roll with purpose, build core strength, explore through movement, and prepare for crawling.

Lisa explains exactly what your baby should be able to do before starting these activities; talks you through baby physiotherapy exercises to support rolling, sitting, tummy play and transitions; and teaches you the stages of crawling in preparation for your baby to crawl. She also takes you through signs to look out for if your baby may need additional help.

If you've been wondering, "When do babies start crawling?", or "Do all babies crawl?", Lisa answers those questions in this episode.

⭐ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔ How to help your baby learn to roll with confidence
• Side-to-side rolling practice using playful cues
• How to help your baby learn to roll with a developmentally sound pattern

✔ How to help your baby learn to sit and move to side-sitting
• Why twisting and oblique engagement are essential
• How to encourage side-sitting without overwhelming your baby

✔ Activities to strengthen core, arms, and shoulders
• Pivoting, reaching and crossing the midline
• Assisted transitions into all-fours
• How to introduce weight-bearing safely

✔ Step-by-step guidance to prepare your baby for crawling
• Using sitting → side-sitting → all-fours transitions
• Why side-sitting is crucial for hip mobility and core stability
• Safe assistance techniques using your legs and hands

✔ What NOT to do
• Avoiding forcing standing too early
• Avoiding too much forward-only reaching (which encourages bottom-shuffling)
• Tummy-time devices and why your thigh is often better

🧡 Key Takeaway

Focus on playful, gentle, baby-led movement, especially twisting, reaching, and transitioning between positions. These activities build the foundation for crawling and smooth, confident development.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

• Lisa’s Head Turning Preference + Flat Head Course
• Previous developmental stage episodes: MS E 1 and E2
• Upcoming episode on crawling (next week!) MS E4

Connect with Lisa here!

For help on:

Baby Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly and Torticollis), click here!

Positional Talipes (Correctable Club Foot), click here!

In today’s episode, Lisa shares physiotherapy-based baby development activities designed specifically for the 3–6 month baby development stage. This episode is packed with simple, practical exercises that support your baby's gross motor skills, tummy time tolerance, rolling, head control, and sitting.

Rather than focusing on age alone, Lisa teaches you how to assess your baby’s motor milestones and choose the right activities based on ability, not age.

⭐ What Your Baby Should Be Doing To Start this Stage's Activities:

• Spend calm, awake time on their backs, tummies, or sides
• Bring their hands to midline on their backs
• Show early core strength through leg lifting
• Hold their head up briefly during tummy time

⭐ Baby Development Activities You’ll Learn in This Episode

1. Back-Lying Activities

Improve core strength, reaching, and leg awareness:

• Head lifting and gentle flexion exercises
• Encouraging babies to bring hands to knees and feet
• Introducing toys to support baby reaching development
• Fun “up, up, up… boom!” leg-dropping game to build tummy strength

2. Tummy Time Activities

Boost baby neck strength, shoulder stability, and tolerance for tummy time:

• Extended plank position with elbows under shoulders
• Encouraging side-to-side head turning
• Early "mini cobra" position to strengthen the upper body
• Reaching on elbows (early early weight-shifting)
• Increasing time spent in tummy time as strength improves

3. Side-Lying Play

Encourages balanced development:

• Baby plays on both sides

4. Teaching Baby to Roll (Back→Tummy & Tummy→Back)

Lisa teaches step-by-step how to teach your baby to roll, including:

• Using attractive toys to motivate movement
• How to scoop and position legs safely
• The correct arm and pelvis placement for successful rolling
• Using verbal cues to help baby anticipate movement
• Building rolling confidence through repetition

Rolling delays are extremely common now—this step is key for babies who are “happy on their back” but reluctant to move.

5. Early Supported Sitting

When your baby is ready, you’ll learn:

• How to safely support your baby’s torso and hips
• The best sitting positions to avoid slumping
• How to encourage upright head control
• Using your legs and cushions for support
• How to progress gradually to reduce your support over time

⭐ 3–6 Month Development Red Flags

If your baby is around six months old, contact your GP or health visitor if you notice:

• Baby is not reaching for toys
• Baby struggles to lift head during tummy time
• Baby cannot maintain head control when being carried
• Hands frequently tightly fisted
• Baby seems very stiff or very floppy

Early support can make a big difference — Lisa also offers physiotherapy support and baby development consultations for families needing extra help.

⭐ Links Mentioned

• High-contrast baby development socks and wrist rattles: Here
• Head shape & flat head syndrome resources: Here
• Baby development guides and consultations available on Lisa’s website: Here

Connect with Lisa here!

For help on:

Baby Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly and Torticollis), click here!

Positional Talipes (Correctable Club Foot), click here!